| Frequently
Asked Questions |
Do I have
to register? Can I use
smilies? Using
HTML Using BB
Code What are
moderators? Can I
change my profile? Can I
customize the bulletin board in any way? Do you use
cookies? Can I edit my
own posts? Can I attach
files? Can I
search? Can I add
a signature to the end of my posts? What are
announcements? Is there a
username/password retrieval system? Can I be
notified by email if someone responds to my topic? Can I
search private forums? What are the
ranks in the SIM RACING FANS Forums? Why are
icons flaming in the topic view?
|
Registering |
| Registration is
only required on a per forum basis. Depending on the how the
administrator has setup his/her forums some may require you to
register in order to post, where some may allow you to post
anonymously. If anonymous posting is allowed you can do so by simply
not entering a username and password when prompted. Registration is
free, and you are not required to post your real name. You are
required to post your actual email address, however it will only be
used to email you a new password if you have forgotten yours. You
also have the option to hide you email address from everyone except
the administrator, it option is selected by default but you can
allow others to see your email address by selecting the 'Allow other
users to view my email address' checkbox on the registration form.
You can register by clicking here
|
| Smilies |
You've probably
seen others use smilies before in email messages or other bulletin
board posts. Smilies are keyboard characters used to convey an
emotion, such as a smile :) or a frown :(. This bulletin board
automatically converts certain smilies to a graphical
representation. The following smilies are currently supported:
| Co wpisać |
Uśmieszek |
Obrazek |
| :D |
Very Happy |
|
| :-D |
Very Happy |
|
| :grin: |
Very Happy |
|
| :) |
Smile |
|
| :-) |
Smile |
|
| :smile: |
Smile |
|
| :( |
Sad |
|
| :-( |
Sad |
|
| :sad: |
Sad |
|
| :o |
Surprised |
|
| :-o |
Surprised |
|
| :eek: |
Suprised |
|
| :-? |
Confused |
|
| :???: |
Confused |
|
| 8) |
Cool |
|
| 8-) |
Cool |
|
| :cool: |
Cool |
|
| :lol: |
Laughing |
|
| :x |
Mad |
|
| :-x |
Mad |
|
| :mad: |
Mad |
|
| :P |
Razz |
|
| :-P |
Razz |
|
| :razz: |
Razz |
|
| :oops: |
Embaressed |
|
| :cry: |
Crying (very sad) |
|
| :evil: |
Evil or Very Mad |
|
| :roll: |
Rolling Eyes |
|
| :wink: |
Wink |
|
| ;) |
Wink |
|
| ;-) |
Wink |
|
| :alien: |
Alien |
|
| :beksa: |
beksa |
|
| :clown: |
clown |
|
| :hammer: |
hamer |
|
| :pub: |
pub |
|
| :sick: |
sick |
|
| :smoke: |
smoke |
|
| :palecdol: |
dol |
|
| :palecgora: |
gora |
|
| :drink: |
drink |
| |
|
|
Using HTML |
| You may be able
to use HTML in your posts, if your administrators and moderators
have this option turned on. Every time you post a new note, you will
be told whether BB Code and/or HTML is enabled. If HTML is on, you
may use any HTML tags, but please be very careful that you proper
HTML syntax. If you do not, your moderator or administrator may have
to edit your post. |
|
Using BB Code |
| BBCode is a variation on the HTML tags you may already be
familiar with. Basically, it allows you to add functionality or
style to your message that would normally require HTML. You can use
BBCode even if HTML is not enabled for the forum you are using. You
may want to use BBCode as opposed to HTML, even if HTML is enabled
for your forum, because there is less coding required and it is
safer to use (incorrect coding syntax will not lead to as many
problems).
| URL
Hyperlinking |
NEW! If BBCode is
enabled in a forum, you no longer need to use the [URL]
code to create a hyperlink. Simply type the complete URL
in either of the following manners and the hyperlink
will be created automatically:
- http://www.yourURL.com
- www.yourURL.com
Notice that you can either
use the complete http:// address or shorten it to the
www domain. If the site does not begin with "www", you
must use the complete "http://" address. Also, you may
use https and ftp URL prefixes in auto-link mode (when
BBCode is ON).
The old [URL] code will still work, as detailed
below. Just encase the link as shown in the following
example (BBCode is in red).
[url]www.totalgeek.org[/url]
NEW! You can now have true hyperlinks
using the [url] code. Just use the following format:
[url=http://www.totalgeek.org]totalgeek.org[/url]
In the examples above, the BBCode automatically
generates a hyperlink to the URL that is encased. It
will also ensure that the link is opened in a new
window when the user clicks on it. Note that the
"http://" part of the URL is completely optional. In
the second example above, the URL will hypelink the
text to whatever URL you provide after the equal sign.
Also note that you should NOT use quotation marks
inside the URL tag. |
| Email
Links |
| To add a
hyperlinked email address within your message, just
encase the email address as shown in the following
example (BBCode is in red).
[email]james@totalgeek.org[/email]
In the example above, the BBCode automatically
generates a hyperlink to the email address that is
encased. |
| Bold and
Italics |
| You can make
italicized text or make text bold by encasing the
applicable sections of your text with either the [b]
[/b] or [i] [/i] tags.
Hello, [b]James[/b] Hello, [i]Mary[/i] |
| Bullets/Lists |
| You can make
bulleted lists or ordered lists (by number or letter).
Unordered, bulleted list:
[list] [*] This is the first bulleted
item. [*] This is the
second bulleted item. [/list]
This produces:
- This is the first bulleted item.
- This is the second bulleted item.
Note
that you must include a closing [/list] when you end
each list.
Making ordered lists is just as easy. Just add either
[LIST=A] or [LIST=1]. Typing [List=A] will produce a
list from A to Z. Using [List=1] will produce numbered
lists.
Here's an example:
[list=A] [*] This is the first bulleted
item. [*] This is the
second bulleted item. [/list]
This produces:
- This is the first bulleted item.
- This is the second bulleted item.
|
| Adding
Images |
| To add a graphic
within your message, just encase the URL of the graphic
image as shown in the following example (BBCode is in
red).
[img]http://www.totalgeek.org/images/tline.gif[/img]
In the example above, the BBCode automatically makes
the graphic visible in your message. Note: the "http://"
part of the URL is REQUIRED for the [img] code. Also note: some UBB
forums may disable the [img]
tag support to prevent objectionable images from being
viewed. |
| Quoting Other
Messages |
| To reference
something specific that someone has posted, just cut and
paste the applicable verbiage and enclose it as shown
below (BBCode is in red).
[QUOTE]Ask not what
your country can do for you.... ask what you can do
for your country.[/QUOTE]
In the example above, the BBCode automatically
blockquotes the text you reference. |
| Code
Tag |
| Similar to the
Quote tage, the Code tag adds some <PRE> tags to
preserve formatting. This useful for displaying
programming code, for instance.
[CODE]#!/usr/bin/perl
print "Content-type: text/html\n\n"; print "Hello
World!"; [/CODE]
In the example above, the BBCode automatically
blockquotes the text you reference and preserves the
formatting of the coded text.
| |
You must not use both HTML and BBCode
to do the same function. Also note that the BBCode is not
case-sensitive (thus, you could use [URL]
or [url]).
Incorrect BBCode Usage:
[url] www.totalgeek.org [/url] - don't put spaces between the bracketed
code and the text you are applying the code to.
[email]james@totalgeek.org[email] - the end brackets must include a
forward slash ([/email])
|
|
Moderators |
|
Moderators
control individual forums. They can edit, delete, or prune any posts
in their forums. If you have a question about a particular forum,
you should direct it to your forum moderator.
Admins and forum moderators reserve the right to close or delete
any post that does not provide a clear and purposefull topic. There
are many members who still use 28.8 and 56k modems that do not have
the time to wade through useless and senseless topics.
Anyone who posts just to increase their SIM RACING FANS Forums
stats or post topics out of boredom risk having there topics closed,
removed and/or membership revoked.
Try to make the topic wording mirror what is inside the thread.
Topics like "Check this out!" and "~~\\You have to see this!//~~"
only attract members to a topic they may not want to
read. |
|
Changing Your
Profile |
| You may easily
change any info stored in your registration profile, using the
"profile" link located near the top of each page. Simply identify
yourself by typing your username and password, or by logging in, and
all of your profile information will appear on screen. |
| Customizing Using Preferences |
As a registered
bulletin board user, you may store your username in memory for up to
one year at a time. By doing this we create a way to keep track of
who you are when you visit the forum, therefor you can customize the
look of the forum by selecting from the themes that the
administration has provided. Also, if the administrator allows it
you may have the option of creating new themes for the fourms. In
creating a new theme you will be able to set the colors, fonts and
font sizes on the board, however at this time only the administrator
may change the images for each theme. When a user creates a theme
the images from the board's default theme will be selected.
*NOTE: In order to use themes you MUST have cookies
enabled. |
| Cookies |
| This bulletin
board uses cookies to store the following information: the last time
you visited the forums, your username, and a unique session ID
number when you login. These cookies are stored on your browser. If
your browser does not support cookies, or you have not enabled
cookies on your browser, none of these time-saving features will
work properly. |
| Editing Your Posts |
| You may edit
your own posts at any time. Just go to the thread where the post to
be edited is located and you will see an edit icon on the line under
your message. Click on this icon and edit the post. No one else can
edit your post, except for the forum moderator or the bulletin board
administrator. Also, for up to 30 mins after you have posted you
message the edit post screen will give you the option of deleteing
that post. After 30 mins however only the moderator and/or
administrator can remove the post. |
| Adding Signatures |
| You may use a
signature on your posts. If you click on the profile link at the top
of most pages, you will be able to edit your profile, including your
standard signature. Once you have a signature stored, you can choose
to include it any post you make by checking the "include signature"
box when you create your post. This bulletin board's administrator
may elect to turn the signature feature off at any time, however. If
that is the case, the "include signature" option will not appear
when you post a note, even if you have stored a signature. You may
also change your signature at any time by changing your profile.
Note: You may use HTML or BB Code
if the admin has enabled these options. |
| Attaching Files |
| For security
reasons, you may not attach files to any posts. You may cut and
paste text into your post, however, or use HTML and/or BB Code (if
enabled) to provide hyperlinks to outside documents. File
attachements will be included in a future version of phpBB.
|
| Searching For Specific Posts |
| You may search
for specific posts based on a word or words found in the posts, a
user name, a date, and/or a particular forum(s). Just click on the
"search" link at the top of most pages. |
| Announcements |
| Announcements
have not been implemented, but are planned in a future release.
However, the administrator can create a forum where only other
administrators and moderators can post. This type of forum can easly
be used as an announcement forum. |
| Lost User Name and/or Password |
| In the even
that you lose your password you can click on the "Forgotten your
password?" link provided in the message posting screens next to the
password field. This link will take you to a page where you can fill
in your username and email address. The system will then email a
new, randomly generated, password to the email address listed in
your profile, assuming you supplied the correct email
address. |
| Email Notification |
| If you create a
new topic, you have the option of receiving an email notification
every time someone posts a reply to your topic. Just check the email
notification box on the "New Topic" forum when you create your new
topic if you want to use this feature. |
| Can I search private forums? |
| Yes, but you
cannot read any of the posts unless you have the password to the
private forum.
|
| What are the ranks for the SIM RACING FANS
Forums? |
The SIM RACING
FANS Forums have established methods to classify their users by
activity through the number of posts.
The current ranks are as follows:
| Rank Title |
Minimum Posts |
Maximum Posts |
Rank Image |
| Master of Wheel |
1000 |
0 |
|
| Top Driver |
750 |
999 |
|
| Good Driver |
500 |
749 |
|
| Average Driver |
300 |
499 |
|
| Weak Driver |
150 |
299 |
|
| Rookie Driver |
1 |
149 |
| | The adminstrator also has
the option of assigning special ranks to any user they choose. The
above table does not list these special ranks. |
| Why are some post icons flaming
in the
forum view? |
| Flaming icons
signify that there are 15 or more posts in that thread. It is a
warning to slower connections that the thread may take some time to
load.
|